Dual accommodation by cabinet ministers mock Gilani’s austerity measures

Dual accommodation by cabinet ministers mock Gilani’s austerity measuresIslamabad, Jan 11 : Despite Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s clear direction to his cabinet members that retaining two government accommodations at a time was a malpractice, as many as 24 Ministers and other top government officials are enjoying the dual facility.

According to reports, apart from the federal and state ministers, the National Assembly Speaker and the Deputy Speaker are also occupying two government accommodations in gross violation of rules.

Gilani had clearly directed his cabinet members that those causing loss to national exchequer by enjoying the facility of two government residences in the Federal Capital should quit one accommodation of their own choice.

“The Prime Minister had firmly said on the floor of the House that those who did not follow the direction would be asked to do so adding ‘they should to make a choice either to quit the cabinet or one official residence’”, The Nation quoted an MNA of the ruling party, as saying.

It is a legal and ethical binding for a particular minister that when he takes charge of his portfolio, he should either vacate flat allotted to him in the Parliament Lodges as MNA or he does not avail the residence in the Ministers’ Enclave.

However, a large number of ministers despite getting houses in the Ministers’ Enclave have not bothered to vacate flats in the Parliament Lodges, which is causing loss to the national exchequer and negating the tall claims of Prime Minister that the incumbent government was focusing to reduce its own expenditures and was pursuing austerity measures. (ANI)